Relevance of this question

Relevance of this question

This question is testing whether the claimed impairment of loss of hearing should be determined as a permanent impairment under the SRC Act or the 1971 Act.

If the first exposure to noise occurred on or after 1 December 1988 and before 1 October 2001, compensation will be determined under s 24 of the SRC Act; a 10% WPI (20% binaural hearting loss) is required.  However, if tinnitus is also present, a 5% WPI (10% binaural hearing loss) will give an entitlement when combined with 5% WPI for tinnitus under Table 7.2.

Where the first exposure to noise occurred on or after 1 October 2001 (or exposure continues after that date), a reduced entitlement threshold of 2.5% WPI (5% binaural hearing loss) applies.

If the first exposure to noise occurred before 1 December 1988, the claim may be:

• determined under the 1971 Act with compensation calculated in accordance with the statutory rates applicable to loss of hearing as at 30 November 1988 (if exposure had ceased by 1 December 1988); or
• determined in accordance with special policy rules which allow a 1988 hearing claim to be treated under the 1971 Act. 

The special policy applies only in cases where:

• a hearing loss claim is made after 1 December 1988;
• the loss of hearing WPI is less than 10% (ie. 20% binaural hearing loss); and
• the exposure to noise causing the loss of hearing occurred in part under the 1971 Act and continued under the SRC Act.